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About Vernonia freedom. (Vernonia, Oregon) 1978-198? | View Entire Issue (March 26, 1981)
Thursday March 26,1981 Page 2— Vernonia Freedom ESD candidate support announced Ashcraft thanks audience To the Editor: Monday night, March 23, the Vernonia Chamber of Commerce invited me to speak to a group of adults at the I.O.O.F. Hall. I welcomed the opportunity and was very pleased at the large number of people from the community who attended. The topic of discussion was the alcohol and drug abuse problem that exists among the young people in our community. The large attendance at the meeting Monday night indicated to me that there is a definite interest in this and other local problems. Most of the people in attendance appeared to be looking for some answers and viable programs to deal with some of these problems within our community. I sincerely hope that Monday night was just a beginning and that there will be many more such gatherings in the future. This meeting was an opportunity for a lot of people to identify a few problems and if nothing else, a chance to be vocal and “Blow off some steam” publicly. This is great and I hope it continues. It is now time to plan future meetings and to make every effort to make these meetings productive. The problems in our community PUBLIC FORUM and on our streets are problems that we must deal with as a unified group, not as individuals going in separate directions and looking for someone else to blame. We all must take an active part; parents, police, the schools and the community as a whole. We have made a start and I hope that this will not end in a lot of “wheel spinning” and just talk and griping but will result in good solid planning and affirmative action. My sincere thanks to the people that took the time to attend this meeting. It showed that a lot of people really are interested in the well being of our community. Howard “Bud” Ashcraft continued from page 1 Drug talk captivates group Ashcraft had set to smoldering in a dish. “Sort of like when the candle in a Halloween pumpkin starts to bum the pumpkin meat inside,” said another. A small sample of marijuana and a cigarette were lit so that those who had never smelled the burnt maple leaf odor of marijuana before might have a chance to and could compare it against the smell of a cigarette. Some members of the audience were quite vocal in their charges against the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) for what they see as lax enforcement of purchasing laws. Many appeared to feel that it was all too easy for minors to obtain beer and wine by purchasing them from friends working in stores where it is sold, from obliging adults; (Teenager lounging against convenience store doorway says to adult about to enter the store: “Hey, would you mind buying me a six pack of beer? Here’s the money.”) or by stealing ir from a store' or their parents. After explaining to his audience that a three man police force, and especially one that is known on sight to virtually every member of the community, just can’t keep up with To the Editor. The members of the Columbia County Support Group for the Handicapped want to announce our support for Betty Kreigh for ESD Board Member at large position. Many of us have regularly attended the ESD Board and Budget meetings increasing drug use and sales, Ashcraft asked the audience to get involved and to support police efforts to curb the problem. “We can’t do it alone,” he told the group. “It’s going to take involvement from the schools, the churches and particularly from parents,” he said. “At this point,” he said, “it looks like we may start to get some of the support we need.” Options ranging from a Neighborhood Watch system to parents making citizen’s arrests when they see something illegal going on were discussed. Although nothing definite was decided upon at Monday night’s meeting, the general feeling seemed to be one of ‘Well, we’ve started, now let’s keep going.’ It is hoped that this meeting was only the first of many and that enough people will stay interested and involved to actually accomplish something. “It’s a start,” said Ashcraft. “But what happens now depends largely on how involved these people and their neighbors stay,” he added. NEXT WEEK: We'll take a look at audience response to the program and at some of the proposed changes and remedies. for the past two years and so has Betty Kreigh. While we were there because of our interest in our handicapped children’s education through the ESD, Betty Kreigh was there as a concerned citizen and taxpayer. She has been an asset as a non-board member as she always “did her homework” and often offered the board valuable opinions on ESD matters. She was usually better prepared for the budget meetings than some board members were because she had read and studied the available material. When electing a board member, we as voters, need to choose a person who will be reliable - someone who will attend all meetings. We need to choose a person who will weigh issues fairly, who will not be influenced by politics or game playing. We need Betty Kreigh as our next ESD Board Member at large. Members of the Columbia County Support Group for the Handicapped. Darlene Mattila Warren, Oregon Petersen supported for ESD post To the Editor: On Tuesday, March 31 voters will go to the polls to elect a board member to the Education Service District (the former IED). Agnes Petersen is a candidate for the position-at-large. Mrs. Petersen has attended ESD board and budget meetings for the past two years. She understands the functions and responsibilities of this public agency. Mrs. Petersen worked with a parents group last year reviewing films provided to local districts by the ESD. This group them made comments and recommendations to the ESD board regarding film selection. Mrs. Petersen and her husband John are parents of one college age son, John, and three St. Helens School District students, Al, Mary and Jim. Mrs. Petersen, a local attorney, would do an excellent job in representing the people of the Columbia ESD. Join us in voting for Agnes . Peterson next Tuesday. She’ll do an outstanding job. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Aubuchon I NOTICE The track meet scheduled for April 16, 1981 has been cancelled and rescheduled for April 10, 1981 at Seaside at 3 pm. PUBLIC NOTICE This is to notify all residents of this area who are using city water that the water charge will increase by $1.00 on April 1st, and again by $1.00 on July 1,1981. This increase has been made necessary by increasing costs of electricity and supplies Don Dunaway City Recorder 3-19,3-26 Hansen’s Country Garden Member, American Floral Services NOW IS THE TIME TO: • Treat for cane borer, scab on fruit trees, slugs & snails • Feed Rhodies & other evergreen shrubs * STOP BY FOR YOUR SUPPLIES WE ALSO FEATURE: Our first bedding plants & shrubs • Soil conditioners & lawn care supplies • Gardening products, including seeds • And our regular FLORIST SERVICES HAPPY SPRING 1981 Vernonia Freedom Published weekly in Vernonia Oregon, 97064. on Thurstlavs at 825 Bridge St. Serving The Upper Nehalem Valley. Phone I298HI. Subscriptions, $8 per year. Deadlines for copy and classified advertising: Monday at .» pm for the following Thursday's paper. Deadline for display advertising: Friday for normal material and Monday for after-weekend copy. Second-Class Postage Paid at Vernonia. OR 97064. Publication. No 474-690. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Vernonia Freedom. 825 Bridge St.. Vernonia, OR 97064. ......... ........ publisher-editor Dennis Dobson.... publisher-business manager Ann Dobson............ Correspondents: Ruth Nogle MEMBER Sandy Welch Oregon Randy Stevens Newspaper Publishers Association Flowers - the gift of Love 842 Madison Ave. 429-2355 Downtown Vernonia I Please renew my subscription to Vernonia Freedom □ । I Please enroll me as a new subscriber to I One year — $8 Vernonia Freedom □ I □ Two years — $15 □ I I □ One year senior citizen — $5 I I Name____________ 1 I 1 I »rsp n «j ci I 825 Bridge bt. ■ Send to: Vernonia Freedom or Call 429-8111 ■ •
